Adjustable bicycle seat assemblies and methods of use

ABSTRACT

Adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assemblies, bikes using such assemblies, and methods of use are provided. One such adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assembly includes first and second tubes in telescoping arrangement. The first tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame and the second tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle seat. A bulkhead is disposed in one of the first and second tubes. The bulkhead has an orifice therethrough, with a rod extending through the orifice and coupled to a movement device disposed near an end of the second tube. The first and second tubes are axially adjustable relative to one another by regulating a flow of a fluid disposed in the first and second tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bicycle seats, and morespecifically, to adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assemblies,bikes using such assemblies, and methods of use.

The function of a bicycle seat post is to connect the rider's seat tothe bicycle frame in a manner that allows an adjustment of the seatposition to accommodate riders of different leg lengths. Typically, seatposts are cylindrical in shape and are adjusted by telescoping the seatpost into a vertical tube member of the bicycle frame. The post is heldin position by a clamp mechanism at the point where the post enters theframe tube. The clamp may use a simple bolt to provide the clamp force,or utilize a lever so as to eliminate the need for a tool while therider is in the field. A bicycle seat typically attaches to the seatpost by a pair of parallel rails extending out of the bottom of theseat, and a clamp at the top of the seat post. This also provides a wayto adjust the fore and aft position of the seat.

A bicycle seat is normally adjusted to give the rider's legs near fullextension at the bottom of the pedal stroke, so as to provide themaximum power and efficiency to the rider. However, terrain may beencountered where a lower seating position is desired to provide alowered center of gravity and better handling. A lowered seat positionis also especially beneficial when negotiating steep downhill terrain,so the rider is less prone to falling over the handlebars.

The problem in the current art is the time and/or complication of makinga seat height adjustment, and the inability of the tubular shape to holdthe seat in a rotationally-aligned condition when a height adjustment ismade. Improvements are desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bicycle seats, and morespecifically, to adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assemblies,bikes using such assemblies, and methods of use. Seat mountingassemblies of the present invention will be particularly useful to allowriders to adjust the seat height while riding the bike, or in the fieldwithout the need for tools or other devices.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable height bicycleseat mounting assembly includes first and second tubes in telescopingarrangement, with the first tube adapted to be coupled to a bicycleframe and the second tube adapted to be coupled to a bicycle seat. Abulkhead is disposed in one of the first and second tubes. The bulkheadhas an orifice therethrough, with a rod extending through the orificeand coupled to a movement device disposed near an end of the secondtube. The first and second tubes are axially adjustable relative to oneanother by regulating a flow of a fluid disposed in the first and secondtubes.

In some aspects, the movement device opens the orifice by moving therod. The movement device can be a lever, a cable, a pin, and the like.The movement device is preferably positioned where a bike rider caneasily reach it, such as mounted to the second tube under the bicycleseat. The mounting assembly may further include a biasing member adaptedto bias the rod towards a position to close the orifice. The biasingmember comprises a spring, in one aspect, and may further include asealing member adapted to seal the orifice. In one aspect, a piston isprovided, disposed in the first tube. The piston is adapted to directthe fluid towards the orifice when the orifice is opened and an axiallycompressive force is applied to the bicycle seat.

In some embodiments, the seat mounting assembly includes a means forarresting rotational movement between the first and second tubes. Thismay occur, for example, using a tongue and groove arrangement betweenthe outer surface of the inner tube, and the inner surface of the outertube. Alternative devices for preventing some or all of the rotationalmovement between the two tubes include a slot and key arrangement,external linkages, interlocking shapes between the outer surface of theinner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube, and the like.

In some embodiments, the first and second tubes are closed at opposingends. In one aspect, a compressible gas is disposed in the closed endportion of the second tube above the bulkhead. The compressible gascreates a biasing effect on the fluid when the orifice is opened to biasthe first and second tubes towards an extended positioned. In anotheraspect, the compressible gas is disposed in the closed end portion ofthe first tube. In that case, the compressible gas creates a biasingeffect on a seal disposed at an open end of the second tube. In someaspects, the biasing effect is adapted to be overcome with an axiallycompressive force applied to the bicycle seat. In this manner, a ridercan compress the two tubes by applying a force to the bicycle seat. Theforce, for example, may be some or all of the rider's body weightapplied by sitting on the seat.

In another embodiment, an adjustable height bicycle seat mountingassembly according to the present invention includes outer and innertubes in telescoping arrangement with each other and each having aclosed end. A bulkhead is disposed in the inner tube having an orificetherethrough. An orifice seal is adapted to open and close the orifice.A substantially incompressible fluid is disposed within at least aportion of the outer tube and within at least a portion of the innertube. The substantially incompressible fluid is adapted to pass throughthe orifice when the orifice is in an open position. A compressible gasis disposed in at least one of the outer tube closed end and inner tubeclosed end. The compressible gas is adapted to provide a biasing effecton the fluid when the orifice is in the open position to bias the innerand outer tubes towards an extended position.

The present invention further provides bicycles having an adjustableheight seat mounting assembly. The seat mounting assembly is axiallyfixed when a sealing device is in a first position relative to abulkhead orifice, and is axially adjustable when the sealing device isin the second position. In some aspects, the seat mounting assemblyincludes a means for arresting rotational movement between twotelescoping tubes. In a particular aspect, the means for arrestingrotation movement operates to arrest rotational movement when the firstand second tubes are axially adjusted. In this manner, the rider canadjust the seat height without the seat twisting or turning out ofalignment with the bicycle frame or the rider.

The present invention further provides methods of adjusting a bicycleseat height using, for example, seat mounting assemblies as describedherein. In one such method, a movement device such as a lever, cable, orthe like is moved to open an orifice through which fluid can pass. Themovement device is released to seal the orifice when the seat is at adesired location. Seat adjustment may further involve applying acompressive load to the seat to cause the first and second tubes totelescope to a desired position. In some aspects, the compressive loadis greater than a biasing effect of the seat assembly in order to lowerthe seat desired position. In other aspects, the biasing effect isgreater than the compressive load to raise the seat desired position.This may also occur when no compressive load is applied to the seat whenthe orifice is opened.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an overall view of a seat mounting assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the seat mounting assembly depictedin FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a seat mounting assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the seat mounting assemblyshown in FIG. 2A;

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a portion of a seat mounting assembly accordingto an embodiment of the present invention depicting a closed bulkhead(FIG. 3A) and an open bulkhead (FIG. 3B);

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a seat mounting assembly according to oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of a bicycle according to the presentinvention incorporating an adjustable seat mounting assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to FIGS. 1A-3B an embodiment of an adjustable height bicycleseat mounting assembly 100 will be described. FIG. 1A depicts seatmounting assembly 100 having two telescoping tubes. A first or outertube 110 is adapted to receive a second or inner tube 140. Tubes 110,140 are in telescoping arrangement in order to raise and lower a bicycleseat to a desired height as further detailed below. While outer tube 110is shown as the lower of the two tubes, outer tube 110 may be the uppertube in an alternative embodiment. FIG. 1B depicts a sidecross-sectional view of seat mounting assembly 100 of FIG. 1A. Detailson the components and functions of seat mounting assembly 100 will befurther described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

As best seen in FIG. 2B, in one embodiment first tube 110 has a closedend 112 and an open end 122. Open end 122 is adapted to receive inner orsecond tube 140 in a sliding or telescoping arrangement. Seat mountingassembly 100 uses internal pressures of gases and/or fluids within tubes110, 140 to control the telescopic height or position of tubes 110 and140 relative to one another. In this manner, the height of a bicycleseat coupled to assembly 100 may be controlled. In a particularembodiment, closed end 112 has a sealing member 118 and a piston 114extending from end 112. Sealing member 118, in one embodiment, isadapted to hermetically seal closed end 112. First tube 110 furtherincludes a second sealing member 120 that is adapted to engage a loweredge or open end of second tube 140. Second sealing member 120 andsealing member 118, in one embodiment, operate to define a chamber 116in which piston 114 at least partially resides. In one embodiment,chamber 116 is a gas or air-filled chamber. Sealing members 118 and 120may include a variety of components including rigid structures such asbulkheads, and the like, as well as elastic components such as rubberO-rings, and the like. A particular embodiment of sealing members 112and 120 will be further described with reference to FIG. 4.

Second tube 140 includes a bulkhead 142 disposed therein. In oneembodiment, bulkhead 142 spans the entire cross-section of second tube140 and has an orifice or opening 144 disposed therethrough. Orifice 144is adapted to permit a fluid to pass through bulkhead 142 as describedin further detail below. Seat mounting assembly 100 includes a rod 146that extends from an upper closed end 156 of second tube 140. In oneembodiment, rod 146 extends to bulkhead 142. As best seen in FIG. 2B,rod 146 includes or is coupled to a sealing member 148 disposed at anend of rod 146. Sealing member 148 is adapted to seal orifice 144 whenrod 146 is at a raised position. In one embodiment, a biasing member 150operates to bias rod 146 such that sealing member 148 seals orifice 144.Forces applied by biasing member 150 may be overcome when a user of seatmounting assembly 100 wants to raise or lower a bicycle seat position.

Second tube 140 has a cavity 162 formed therein. In one embodiment,cavity 162 extends from closed end 156 to about bulkhead 142. In oneembodiment, cavity 162 contains a compressible fluid or gas, which mayinclude air, nitrogen, an inert gas, or the like. The compressible fluidor gas substantially fills cavity 162 above a fluid level 164. Fluidlevel 164, in one embodiment, is above bulkhead 142. Rod 146 passesthrough an opening in closed upper end 156 of second tube 140. Theopening may include a seal disposed adjacent thereto to provide ahermetic and/or fluidic seal around rod 146. In this manner, gas and/orfluid is generally maintained within cavity 162. Rod 146 is adapted toengage a movement device 170, which in one embodiment is a lever 170 asshown in FIG. 2B. In alternative embodiments, movement device 170 maycomprise a pin, a cable, or the like. Movement device 170 is positionedand designed to permit a user or bicycle rider to open orifice 144 tocontrol a bicycle seat height. Seat mounting assembly 100 furtherincludes a seat post 180 for coupling seat mounting assembly 100 to abicycle seat (not depicted in FIG. 2B).

Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, additional details on the operation ofseat mounting assembly 100 will be described. FIG. 3A depicts rod 146 ina position such that orifice 144 is closed. Again, orifice 144 may beclosed by sealing member 148, which comprises a plug, a cap, an O-ring,or the like. Rod 146 is biased to close orifice 144 by biasing member150. Biasing member 150 is depicted as a spring in FIG. 3A, althoughother biasing members may be used within the scope of the presentinvention, including other compressive devices, elastic devices, and thelike. In one embodiment, biasing member 150 engages a shoulder 152 ofbulkhead 142. When rod 146 is depressed, biasing member 150 compressesagainst shoulder 152 and sealing member 148 is lowered relative tobulkhead 142 as shown in FIG. 3B. In this manner, sealing member 148 nolonger blocks or covers orifice 144, and air, fluid, or the like maypass through orifice 144. Rod 146 is lowered, in one embodiment, byproviding an upward force on lever 170 as depicted by arrow 190.Application of force 190 causes lever 170 to rotate about a rotationpoint 172. A coupler 174 coupled to or near an end of lever 170 operatesto depress rod 146 in the direction indicated by arrow 192. Rod 146 inturn forces sealing member 148 away from orifice 144 while biasingmember 150 compresses against shoulder 152. The release of force 190causes biasing member 150 to return rod 146 to the position depicted inFIG. 3A. In this manner, fluid or gas may no longer pass through orifice144 as orifice 144 is sealed or blocked by sealing member 148.

With reference to FIG. 2A-3B and FIG. 5, a method of adjusting a bicycleseat height will be described. As depicted in FIG. 5, a bicycle 200includes a bicycle frame 210 having at least one wheel 220 rotationallycoupled thereto. A seat 230 on which a rider (not shown) will typicallysit is coupled to frame 210 using an adjustable height bicycle seatmounting assembly 240. Seat mounting assembly 240 may be similar oridentical to seat mounting assembly 100. Assembly 240 includes a leveror movement device 250 adapted to control the flow of a fluid through aninternal orifice in seat mounting assembly 240. Movement device 250 maybe similar or identical to lever 170. More specifically, movement oflever 170 as shown in FIG. 3B causes orifice 144 to be opened. A fluiddisposed within a chamber 160 in a lower end of second tube 140 is ableto pass or flow through orifice 144. The fluid of chamber 160 willstrike a pressure balance with a compressible gas in chamber 162 absentother compressive forces on seat mounting assembly 240. Seat mountingassembly 100 is designed such that an unweighted bicycle seat will causefirst and second tubes 110, 140 to be biased in an extended positionsuch as shown in FIG. 2B. When orifice 144 is sealed (FIG. 3A) a ridermay sit on seat 230 with seat 230 being axially stable. Morespecifically, tubes 140 and 110 will not telescopically move relative toone another when orifice 144 is closed.

When orifice 144 is opened (FIG. 3B), fluid is capable of passingbetween chamber 160 and cavity 162. The application of a compressiveforce shown by arrow 260 (FIG. 5) may be used to drive second tube 140into first tube 110, effectively lowering the position of second tube140. In this manner, the application of a sufficient axial force 260will cause second tube 140 to telescopically slide relative to firsttube 110. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, second sealing member 120and second tube 140 will slide downward in FIG. 2B while piston 114remains stationary relative to first tube 110. As a result, fluidcontained in chamber 160 is forced through orifice 144 to raise a toplevel of the fluid 164 in cavity 162. This process increases the gaspressure in cavity 162 containing the compressible gas or fluid. Uponrelease of lever or movement device 170, orifice 144 is sealed and firstand second tubes 110, 140 will remain in the telescopic position at thetime orifice 144 is closed.

As a result, a rider in the field, without tools and potentially withoutgetting off of bicycle 200 can raise or lower seat 230. For example,operating lever 250 while sitting on seat 230 will cause seat mountingassembly 240 to compress, resulting in a lower seat position. When lever250 is depressed while the rider is not sitting on seat 230, theincreased gas pressure within cavity 162 operates to force the fluidthrough orifice 144 back into chamber 160. Again, this process occursonly when orifice 144 is opened by the appropriate movement of lever ormovement device 170. Thus, when orifice 144 is closed, seat 230 willremain axially stable even when a rider gets off the bicycle or standson the bicycle pedals removing their weight from seat 230. However, theopening of orifice 144 will cause tubes 140 and 110 to extend to anextended position such as that shown in FIG. 2B absent a compressiveforce 260.

In a preferred embodiment, first and second tubes 110, 140 arerotationally constrained. In this manner, second tube 140 is adapted toslide in and out of open end 122 of first tube 110, but not rotaterelative to first tube 110. As a result, seat 230 can be raised orlowered without seat 230 being turned to the left or right as the seatheight is adjusted. This feature is an improvement over prior-art seatmounting posts which, when loosened, allow both axial repositioning ofbicycle seat 230 while simultaneously allowing the rotationalpositioning of bicycle seat 230. The means for arresting rotationalmovement of tubes 110 or 140 may take a variety of forms within thescope of the present invention. For example, a tongue and groovearrangement may be provided where a tongue, notch, ridge, or the like onan outer surface of second tube 140 slides within a groove located on aninner surface of first tube 110. In another embodiment, second tube 140and/or the outer surface of second tube 140 has a non-circularcross-section or shape. For example, the cross section of second tube140 or the outer surface thereof may be square, rectangular, oval,hexagonal, or the like. The inner surface of first tube 110 has amatching or similar shape. In this manner, the two tubes 110, 140 cantelescope or axially slide relative to each other, but cannot rotatesignificantly relative to each other.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a particular embodiment of a seat mountingassembly 400 according to the present invention will be described. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the describedembodiment is merely one of many ways the present invention may bemanufactured or incorporated into new or existing bicycles. Further,some of the described components may be replaced, altered, added to orremoved without departing from the scope of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 4, a lower clamp 1 and an upper clamp 2 are coupledtogether. Clamps 1 and 2 may be used, for example, to clamp to railsdisposed underneath a bicycle seat. In this manner, the seat is coupledto seat mounting assembly 400. Clamps 1 and 2 have a hole disposedtherethrough and adapted for receiving a bolt 3. Bolt 3 may further passthrough a clamp head 4 that is adapted to receive lower clamp 1 in anestled arrangement. A lever 16 is preferably coupled to a release rod21. Lever 16 may correspond to movement device 170 depicted in FIG. 2B.Further, release rod 21 may correspond to rod 146 in FIG. 2B. Lever 16is coupled to assembly 400 using an adjuster screw 15, a spacer 18,and/or a spring 17. Further, a pin 28 may operate to couple release rod21 to lever 16.

Seat mounting assembly 400 includes an outer tube 5 and an inner tube 6.Inner tube 6 preferably has a bulkhead 7 disposed therein. Bulkhead 7has an orifice passing therethrough as previously described. Release rod21 includes or is coupled to a biasing member 24. In one embodiment,biasing member 24 is a spring valve. A sealing member is coupled to anend of release rod 21 to help seal orifice passing through bulkhead 7.The sealing member may comprise a pin head screw 23 coupled to a washer22, and may further include one or more O-rings 34 and 32. Further, theupper end of release rod 21 may have one or more O-rings 30 disposedtherewith to help create a seal at the top closed end of inner tube 6.As shown, inner tube 6 may have its closed end closed by mating withclamp head 4. In one embodiment, inner tube 6 has one or more glideblocks 11 disposed to an outer surface thereof. Glide blocks 11 areadapted to engage one or more glide rings 110. In this manner, thearrangement of glide blocks and glide rings helps prevent rotationalmovement between inner tube 6 and outer tube 5.

As previously described, in one embodiment outer tube 5 has a closedlower end. The lower end of outer tube 5 may be closed using thecombination of a base cap 19, a spring valve 20, and a valve body 26.One or more O-rings 31 also may be used to help provide a fluidic sealat the end of outer tube 5. As previously noted, a compression rod orpiston is disposed within outer tube 5. Compression rod 12 has a pistonor end cap 14 coupled thereto that assists in forcing fluid containedwithin inner tube 6 through an orifice in bulkhead 7. As can be seen inboth FIG. 4 and FIG. 2B, second sealing member 120 may be used to engagea lower end of inner tube 6 to help maintain a fluidic seal at the lowerend of chamber 160. Second seal 120 may, for example, slide along theouter surface of compression rod 12 as inner tube 6 slides further intoouter tube 5. Second seal 120, in one embodiment, includes an inner sealhead 13, piston head 14, and one or more O-rings 33 and 36. The base ofcompression rod 12 may further include an O-ring 35 that helps form aportion of sealing member 118 as shown in FIG. 2B. Further, theinterface between open end 122 of outer tube 5 may include a main sealhead 8 disposed around an upper bushing 9. In one embodiment, a rodwiper 25 is further incorporated in the open end 122 of outer tube 5.

Seat mounting assemblies of the present invention may be used in themanufacture of new bicycles, as well as for the retrofit of existingbicycles. For example, in one embodiment the lowermost tube of assembly100 is fixedly coupled to a bicycle frame to provide a primary supportstructure for the bicycle seat. In a retrofit example, an existing seatpost is removed from a vertical tube member portion of the bicycleframe. The lower tube of seat mounting assembly 100 is then insertedinto the vertical tube member portion. The lower tube of seat mountingassembly 100 may be affixed to the bicycle frame with a clamp or thelike. Alternatively, the lower tube of seat mounting assembly is ofsufficient length to provide sufficiently rigid support to the seat.

The invention has now been described in detail. However, it will beappreciated that the invention may be carried out in ways other thanthose illustrated in the aforesaid discussion, and that certain changesand modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appendedclaims. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not intended to belimited by those specific examples, but rather to be accorded the scoperepresented in the following claims.

1. An adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assembly, comprising: anouter tube and an inner tube in telescoping arrangement, the outer tubeadapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame; a seat clamping arrangementhaving means for connecting to a bicycle seat, the seat clampingarrangement is directly coupled to a top end of the inner tube; amovement device coupled to the seat clamping arrangement; a valvearrangement disposed in the inner tube and the outer tube, the valvearrangement having an orifice therethrough; a rod extending from thevalve arrangement and coupled to the movement device, wherein the rod isconfigured to open and close the orifice; wherein the inner and outertubes are axially adjustable relative to one another by regulating aflow of a fluid disposed in the inner and outer tubes; and at least oneguide block for arresting rotational movement between the inner andouter tubes, wherein the inner tube includes a pocket into which theguide block is held and wherein the outer tube includes a glide intowhich the guide block glides; and wherein the outer tube has an openupper end and a seal head disposed in the upper end, wherein the sealhead is adjacent to a low friction bushing to assist the inner and outertubes in sliding easily when bearing a side load placed on the assemblywhen a rider sits on the seat.
 2. The seat mounting assembly as in claim1 wherein a movement of the movement device opens the orifice by movingthe rod.
 3. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 1 wherein themovement device is a lever.
 4. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 1wherein the movement device is disposed under the bicycle seat mountedto the second tube.
 5. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 1 furthercomprising a biasing member adapted to bias the rod towards a positionto close the orifice.
 6. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 5wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
 7. The seat mountingassembly as in claim 5 wherein the rod comprises a sealing memberadapted to seal the orifice.
 8. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 1further comprising a piston disposed in the outer tube and adapted todirect the fluid towards the orifice when the orifice is opened and anaxially compressive force is applied to the bicycle seat.
 9. The seatmounting assembly as in claim 1 wherein the outer and inner tubes areclosed at opposing ends, and wherein a compressible gas is disposed inthe closed end portion of the second tube above the valve arrangement.10. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 9 wherein the compressiblegas creates a biasing effect on the fluid when the orifice is opened tobias the outer and inner tubes towards an extended positioned.
 11. Theseat mounting assembly as in claim 10 wherein the biasing effect isadapted to be overcome with an axially compressive force applied to thebicycle seat.
 12. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 1 wherein theouter and inner tubes are closed at opposing ends, and wherein acompressible gas is disposed in the closed end portion of the innertube.
 13. The seat mounting assembly as in claim 12 wherein thecompressible gas creates a biasing effect on a seal disposed at an openend of the inner tube.
 14. An adjustable height bicycle seat mountingassembly, comprising: an outer tube and an inner tube in telescopingarrangement, the outer tube coupled to a bicycle frame; a seat clampingarrangement coupled to a bicycle seat, wherein the seat clampingarrangement is directly coupled to a top end of the inner tube; amovement device coupled to the seat clamping arrangement; a valvearrangement disposed in the inner tube, the valve arrangement having anorifice therethrough; a rod extending from the valve arrangement andcoupled to the movement device, wherein the rod is configured to openand close the orifice; wherein the inner and outer tubes are axiallyadjustable relative to one another by regulating a flow of a fluiddisposed in the inner and outer tubes; and wherein the outer tube has anopen upper end and a seal head threaded to the upper end, wherein theseal head retains a low friction bushing to assist the inner and outertubes in sliding easily when bearing a side load placed on the assemblywhen a rider sits on the seat, and wherein removal of the seal headallows the bushing and inner tube to be removed.
 15. A mounting assemblyas in claim 14, further comprising at least one guide block forarresting rotational movement between the inner and outer tubes, whereinthe inner tube includes a pocket into which the guide block is held andwherein the outer tube includes a glide into which the guide blockglides.